Nanogels for the catalytic transformation of carbohydrates

In this project, Professor Susanne Striegler of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arkansas is developing catalytic gels that break down renewable plant-based materials into simple sugars and other useful chemical building blocks. The research could lead to major advances in sustainability by combining a supportive polymer structure with highly active catalytic sites to make chemical transformations more efficient for practical uses. The project will provide hands-on interdisciplinary training for all coworkers in this laboratory and include yearly one-day STEM workshops taught in German for 30–50 high school students and teachers. The workshops will show participants from Arkansas, southern Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma how combining STEM education with language skills can expand study-abroad and international career opportunities by reducing language and cultural barriers. This project will develop tunable nanogel-based catalytic systems for renewable feedstock conversion. The research will elucidate synergistic interactions between catalytic centers and biomimetic matrix contributions to optimize the hydrolytic transformation of complex saccharides into simpler carbohydrate synthons. Nanogels will be synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic, calorimetric, and chromatographic techniques, complemented by computational studies. Mechanistic investigations using selected oligosaccharide substrates will probe enthalpic and entropic contributions to hydrolysis providing a foundation for the design of efficient and selective catalytic systems. The outcomes of this fundamental research are expected to advance biomimetic catalysis and carbohydrate chemistry. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.